The Relationship between Body Composition and Speed, Agility, and Strength Parameters in Regional Amateur League Football Players

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between body composition and speed, agility, and strength parameters in regional amateur league football players. Thirteen male football players who played in regional amateur league competitions of the Turkish Football Federation voluntarily participated in the study. The football players underwent body analysis measurements as well as tests of 20-m sprint, Illinois agility, countermovement jump (CMJ), leg strength, and back strength. The SPSS package program was used for the relational and descriptive analysis of the data. The Pearson correlation test was performed to determine the relationships between variables in normally distributed data. Moderate positive correlations were found between the Illinois agility test results and body weight (r = .594; p = .032), fat mass (r = .579; p = .038), and basal metabolic rate (r = .613; p = .026), while a moderate negative relationship existed between fluid percentage (r = -.578; p = .038) and agility. There were moderate positive correlations between leg strength and fat-free percentage (r = .556; p = .048) and muscle percentage (r = .555; p = .049), and a moderate negative relationship between leg strength and fat percentage (r = -.556; p = .048). Moderate positive correlations were observed between back strength and fat-free percentage (r = .629; p = .021) and muscle percentage (r = .628; p = .022), while moderate negative relationships were observed between back strength and fat mass (r = -.587; p = .035) and fat percentage (r = -.629; p = .021). There were no significant relationships between the 20-m sprint and CMJ tests and body composition parameters (p > .05). In order to optimize the physical performance of football players, we recommended balancing the fluid percentage, limiting body fat, and increasing the muscle percentage.

Keywords

• Football
• Body composition
• Biomotor characteristics

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